MLILY Mattresses in Columbia, SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Five people were arrested and charged as part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation that crossed state lines, State Law Enforcement Division announced Thursday.

Four of the people charged are from South Carolina and one suspect is from North Carolina.

The sex acts took place at the HomeTowne Studios and Suites Columbiana on 350 Columbiana Drive, according to SLED arrest warrants.

According to arrest warrants, Rebecca Melanie Perry, 29, from Fayetteville, recruited harbored, isolated and transported a victim under the age of 18 for the purposes of sex trafficking.

At first, Perry began the sex trafficking at the Super 8 Motel located on Washington Road in Augusta. Then she brought the victim to the hotel in Columbia, the warrants allege.

Perry was charged on Dec. 7 with trafficking a victim under 18 years old (first offense).

Warrants allege Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 32, of West Columbia, Terrell Counts, 32, of Columbia, and Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary, 24, of Laurens, recruited victims under the age of 18 for the purpose of performing sex acts for compensation.

The sex acts took place at the same hotel on 350 Columbiana Drive, the warrants say.

Nicholson and Gary were each charged with four counts of trafficking in a victim under 18 years old (first offense).

Counts, who was charged on May 24, was charged with one count of trafficking a victim under 18 years old (first offense).

Jared Pease, 56, from Darlington, is accused in SLED warrants of aiding, abetting or conspiring with another person to advertise commercial sex acts involving three minors minor for compensation.

He was charged on Nov. 9 with three counts of trafficking victims under 18 years old (first offense).

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Many families eagerly anticipate being together with their loved ones as the holiday season approaches.

However, for some in the Midlands, this joy is overshadowed by the haunting absence of those they hold dear.

There are 98 cases in Kershaw, Richland, and Newberry counties of people who have been reported missing.

One such case is that of Willis Frierson, affectionately known as "Benji."

His sons, Jarrick and Marquez Cain, have put up missing posters across Bishopville since his disappearance on April 30.

"I hope maybe he's standing out in the yard or walking around like how he usually does, but you know, right now, it's just hopes," his son Jarrick said in a heartfelt plea.

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Person System, South Carolina has 276 men and women missing as of October 2023.

Morgan Duncan, a 27-year-old battling schizophrenia, has been missing since Nov. 28.

His mother, Latanza Duncan, describes him as a kind and gentle soul, active in his community, "Morgan would go in his community and ask the senior citizens can take their trash out and be of some service to anyone. I say he kept busy trying to be a good citizen in our community,".

Adding, "This is just a nightmare; what I am trying to do is stay focused and bring him home. "

Investigations into missing persons cases involve meticulous processes, as explained by Carol Tarte, Lt. Special Victims Unit with the Kershaw Sheriff's Office.

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"We have to look into social media records, phone records, bank records, travel records. That can take several months to process just to get records back and then analyze them, but that time that it takes to get to that person is just significantly longer than that 24-48 hours that is portrayed on TV," she says.

Despite the challenges, Benji's family clings to hope, urging others not to give up hope even when the first critical hours pass.

"I really can't describe it. It's tough, I can tell you that, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone," Jarrick says.

As the holidays draw near, the city of Sumter and Kershaw County grapple with multiple ongoing missing person cases, including Sophia Van Dam and her son Matayo, who were reported missing in August.

The City of Sumter has four other cases, including Tommy Brailey, who has been missing since August 2017.

In Kershaw County, the search continues for Jennifer Beverly, who has been missing since Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023.

Authorities urge anyone with information on these or other cases to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

We are, perhaps more than ever, fascinated by holiday lights.

For some, it’s a tradition at home. Maybe it’s the contrast of cold, blustery December nights and the warm, colorful glow of hundreds, if not thousands, of illuminated bulbs. Or maybe we’ve just all seen “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” one too many times.

Either way, a short drive through any number of residential neighborhoods in the Midlands shows that many of us are enamored with lights during the Yuletide.

But it’s not just the residential displays that dot the local landscape. In recent years there has been an increasing number of organized, professional-grade holiday light events at venues across the Midlands. Some, like the Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals in the Irmo area, have been around for quite some time. Others, such as the Making Spirits Bright pop-up at Williams-Brice Stadium, are new on the scene.

Here’s a look at some of the top holiday lights destinations on tap for this season in the Midlands.

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 5:30-9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 7, 5:30-10:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 8, 5:30-10:30 p.m. (sold out)

1125 George Rogers Blvd., Columbia

Even though the University of South Carolina’s football season is over, there’s still a reason for folks to gather at Williams-Brice Stadium. Making Spirits Bright, which the university bills as a “holiday pop-up experience,” is set to make its debut. The event will feature, according to gamecocksonline.com, holiday-themed stadium light shows every 45 minutes throughout the night, access to various photo booth stations, and ornament decorating opportunities for kids. Guests can also purchase drinks from a full bar.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through gamecocksonline.com. Dec. 8 is already sold out.

Now through Dec. 31, 6-10 p.m.

6071 St. Andrews Road, Irmo.

The Holiday Lights on the River drive-thru holiday lights extravaganza hosted by the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission is a longstanding Christmas hallmark of the region. It features nearly 3 miles of lights and animated displays (Santa Claus dunking a basketball and aliens beaming up a bundle of presents are a couple favorites) that wind through the park. There also are a number of activities for kids and families, including a laser light show in the park’s wetlands trail, a hayride through lights and a chance to write letters to Santa.

Admission is $25 per car; $50 per 12-to-15-passenger van, trucks with trailer or limo; and $75 per bus with 16 passengers or more.

Now through Dec. 31, check firefliesholidaylights.com for a full calendar and times,

640 Freed St., Columbia.

Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies minor league baseball team, is one of Columbia’s most popular summertime destinations. Now it has also become a go-to spot in the Christmas season, as well, as it lights up the BullStreet District with Fireflies Holiday Lights. The baseball park is festooned with more than a million LED Christmas lights, and the nightly event features vendors, visits with Santa Claus and a host of concessions for sale. The Fireflies’ slogan has long been “Let’s Glow,” and that takes on a whole new meaning with the holiday lights event.

Admission is $10 in November and will be $12 in December.

Dec. 8-24

Closed on Mondays; 6-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday

1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia.

The sparkling lights from the annual South Carolina State Fair aren’t the only illuminations that festoon the fairgrounds. December will bring the fifth annual Carolina Lights at the fairgrounds. The drive-thru event will include more than 100 individual LED light displays, with some returning favorites and some new displays for 2023. There also will be cookies and milk for sale each night, at about the halfway point of the drive-thru event.

Admission is $20 for cars, $35 for mini-buses (9-25 passengers) and $70 for vehicles with more than 25 passengers. You can get car passes for $15 if you purchase them by Dec. 7 at scstatefair.org/carolina-lights/.

Select nights through Jan. 14. Visit riverbanks.org/events/wild-lights for a full calendar. 5-9 p.m.

500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia.

For more than three decades, residents have enjoyed a holiday lights display at Riverbanks Zoo. Now, in 2023, the zoo has debuted a fresh take on the event, dubbed Wild Lights. The event features colorful, festive displays and exhibits, and the zoo touts a greater inspiration from nature in the new event. A news release from the zoo says guests can explore “nearly 60 larger-than-life, handcrafted lanterns throughout the zoo, from pollinators and plants to endangered (and even extinct) animals.” Santa is appearing at the zoo for the event through Dec. 23, and there are various interactive and photo opportunities

Ticket prices start at $14.99 and vary depending on depending on date. Visit riverbanks.org/events/wild-lights for more detailed ticket pricing information.

Dr. Billy Clowney had his eye on the building at 9661 Garners Ferry Road in Hopkins for quite a while.

Clowney, who worked for decades as an oncologist, lives in Lower Richland and would often drive by the building in Hopkins while he was on his way to work in Sumter. The facility had different uses through the years, including time as a furniture store.

“I live on Motley Road, and I drove by this for 30 years going to Sumter,” Clowney said. “I was going back and forth to Sumter and every time I passed this hill I thought, ‘There should be a restaurant in that place.’”

Now, what once was little more than a vision or aspiration for Clowney has become a reality, as he recently opened The Epicurean Table restaurant just off Garners Ferry Road, near the intersection with Horrell Hill Road. The restaurant is just west of Horrell Hill Elementary School.

It’s an establishment where Clowney, executive chef Everette Tucker and other staffers are looking to bring an elevated dining experience to rural Hopkins. The inside of the facility has been completely remodeled, with high-backed, cozy booths illuminated by chandeliers, along with an elegant bar and bold colors highlighting the tabletops and floors. A Christmas tree glowed on a stage during a recent visit by a reporter, and jazz played softly from the sound system as lunch diners filed in and out.

The menu at The Epicurean Table features diverse offerings, including shrimp & grits, rib-eye steaks, shrimp Alfredo, lamb, beef lasagna, chicken & waffles, grilled salmon, salads and much more. There are also vegetarian options, including an eggplant and lentils dish that features grilled eggplant with sauteed mushrooms on a bed of lentils, topped with a carrot ginger puree.

“Our inspiration was to bring something nice to Hopkins,” said Clowney, who is now retired from his oncology work. “There are a lot of people here in this area. Why should they have to drive all the way downtown to have a nice meal in a nice atmosphere?”

Tucker said Clowney has encouraged the kitchen staff to create a vibrant menu, one that offers lanes for culinary experimentation. He also said the restaurant strives to be a comfortable spot for local residents.

“It’s different,” Tucker said. “We don’t have TVs on the wall. You come in to eat, you come in to enjoy it with your family. ... It’s family oriented. What ‘epicurean’ means to me is consistent, luxurious tastes with wine and family and friends, communing together.”

The Epicurean Table opened about a month-and-a-half ago, and has been slowly tweaking its menu and making adjustments as it introduces itself to the community. Clowney said the response in Lower Richland has been encouraging.

“We have people come in and say they love the food, which makes me feel good,” Clowney said. “We’ve given people something very nice and very healthy. That, in itself, is the pleasure of it.”

Clowney said he hopes The Epicurean Table can serve as an inspiration that other businesses can make a go of it in Hopkins.

“This is just a start,” Clowney said. “This is a spark. ... I think people will realize they can stay here and have a good time and build and raise a community that is better than what we have.”

The Epicurean Table is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Monday.

This story was originally published December 13, 2023, 10:36 AM.

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 19 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of numerous South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, election coverage, social media and more.

If you know us, you know we’re here for the deep cuts — and there’s plenty of interesting factoids to go around. As connoisseurs of the quirky and unconventional, we put together a list of the Soda City’s history, oddest characteristics, and more. Maybe you’ve lived here your whole life and know some of this, or maybe you’ll learn something new.

Either way, test your local knowledge with these 15 interesting facts.

1. The South Caroliniana Library was the first college library in the nation built as a separate building in 1840. The freestanding library was constructed at the University of South Carolina, and you can read the full history of the library here.

2. Columbia has star power as numerous athletes, actors, and authors hail from the capital city. This includes 2020 Masters Tournament champion Dustin Johnson, R&B singer Angie Stone, and Kristin Davis, known for her role as Charlotte on “Sex and the City.”

3. Lake Murray was built in the 1920’s — and at the time — was the largest (50,000 acres) man-made lake in the country. The Saluda Dam (popularly known as the Lake Murray Dam) was also the largest earthen dam in the world when it was built.

4. Georgia O’Keeffe, a well-known modern artist of the 20th century, taught art at Columbia College in 1915. While there, she produced the charcoal sketches that found their way to Alfred Stieglitz – who took up promoting her art… and the rest is history.

5. 1,284. That’s how many toasters Kenneth Huggins has in the world’s largest collection which he stores in his home and a special-built storage house. Soda Citizens hold several world records in the Guinness Book of World Records, including the greatest distance catching a grape in the mouth.

6. Charles F. Bolden — former astronaut and 12th Administrator of NASA — graduated from C. A. Johnson High School in 1964. Charles spent four missions in orbit on the space shuttle, and orbited the Earth 444 times, logging over 680 hours in space.

7. Fort Jackson, the 53,000-acre US Army Training Center in Columbia, is the largest and most active Entry Training Center into the US Army in the nation. It trains ~45,000 basic training Soldiers annually, making up almost 50% of the Army’s basic combat trainees and about 60% of all females entering the Army.

8. Riverbanks Zoo is one of only ten zoos in the US to have koalas on exhibit, and theirs is a permanent exhibit. To best care for the animals, the zoo even flies in eucalyptus from Florida. Learn more about the koalas at Riverbanks and their breeding program here.

9. Did you know that Congaree National Park, South Carolina’s only national park, has 20+ of the tallest known trees of their species? These “champion trees” literally rise above all others and help bring in a lot of visitors to the park.

10. Columbia was one of the first planned cities in the U.S. (And is believed to be in the number two spot, just behind Savannah, Georgia.) It was planned out as a two-mile square around the State House, with the city’s streets designed in a grid.

11. The Barringer Building (1338 Main St.), formerly known as the National Loan and Exchange Bank, was South Carolina’s first skyscraper. Constructed in 1903, the 12-story structure represents advances in building use of steel framework, high-pressure water pipes, and elevators.

12. 71. That’s how many movies have been filmed in Columbia, according to IMDB. Better-known pictures include “Death Sentence” starring Kevin Bacon and scenes filmed in Williams-Brice Stadium in “The Waterboy” and “The Program.”

13. Cola didn’t have any paved streets until 1908 when Main Street was paved. The city even tried wooden blocks before considering paving on Washington Street, only to find that the wooden blocks would float away in heavy rain. It took the city almost a decade to replace the blocks with asphalt on Washington Street in 1925.

14. Founded in 1844, the publishing firm of R. L. Bryan Company is Columbia’s oldest operating business. Now located at 301 Greystone Blvd., the company has been the textbook distributor for the state of South Carolina since 1901.

15. Assembly Street is 150 feet wide, which is about 50 feet wider than other streets around town. Why? In the 1700s, the decision on the width was based on the belief that mosquitoes were unable to travel more than 60 feet without dying from starvation to get across.

Your turn. Think you can get one over on us? Let us know your favorite local trivia tidbit and you just might make it into the newsletter.